The World Out of Home Organisation’s has set creativity, sustainability, data and measurement and regulation as main themes for 2026 Annual Congress in London.
WOO has appointed from its board of directors, four industry figures with the experience to champion the key pillars.
Tim Bleakley, chairman of Ocean Outdoor will head up the Creativity. Katrin Robertson, CEO at blowUP media leads on Sustainability. Charles Parry-Okenden of Australia’s OMA will focus on Data and Measurement. Kai-Marcus Thaesler of B|A|M the German OOH Association will lead WOO’s monitoring and action plan on Regulation.
Creativity
WOO aims to curate a global showcase of the best OOH work, updated continuously and amplified across every WOO platform. They will work to elevate the WOO’s Global Creative Awards into the medium’s definitive international benchmark. It aims to demonstrate how creative work translates into better business outcomes.
Sustainability
This will see the continued development of WOO Sustainability Knowledge Hub. It will include carbon calculators, best-practice case studies, procurement templates, an innovation directory and a community forum.
London will also see the launch of the AdNetZero GSMF (D)OOH carbon calculator-developed in partnership with AdNetZero.
Data and Measurement
WOO will launch its latest Global OOH expenditure survey, a standardised model that merges aggregated data from over 80 territories worldwide. It will cover spend by country and look in more detail than previously. The updated Audience Measurement Guidelines – version 2.0 will be launched covering best practice from 28 rather than the existing 11 territories.
Regulation
WOO will develop a global policy response to growing regulatory pressure across the world, with an early-warning policy radar, tracking legislation before it escalates. They will work closely with the country OOH associations to share experience and best practice across the world’s OOH community.
WOO president Tom Goddard said: “We are delighted to be developing an active and lasting contribution to the growth and health of the OOH industry through these initiatives. I’d like to sincerely thank these four
Board Members for so enthusiastically stepping up to the task, on a voluntary basis, on top of their day jobs. Our London Congress will mark an important step in this process as OOH successfully navigates its way through a rapidly changing media landscape. As such, I predict that London could well be WOO’s most important and far-reaching Congress to date.” Goddard added.
